Chapter 220: Chapter 146: Feeding on Merfolk (5k)

"This..."

Yui Zhen stood by the shore, looking underwater, the pitch-black lake water was lit only by that single patch of luminous algae.

It is said that in the deep sea, where all is darkness, the fish emit a faint glow, attracting prey with their light. Even Yui Zhen did not expect that this patch of luminous algae was actually the mouth of an unknown aquatic beast, using its light to lure prey into its trap.

Everything happened too suddenly, but Yui Zhen reacted quickly, ready to leap into the lake to rescue You Su.

The plan was so close to succeeding, how could it be disrupted here?!

Yet his body couldn’t move, as if something was binding him. Yui Zhen turned his head to see that the calm and composed expression that previously graced Shenxi’s face had vanished, replaced by a look of gravity.

"Don’t forget, we can’t go into the water."

Shenxi’s gaze fixed on You Su, who was being devoured, and in an instant, that patch of luminous algae vanished into the Five-Colored Soil, disappearing without a trace, the colorful mud in the water exploded like fireworks:

"Don’t trouble yourself needlessly."

Upon hearing this, Yui Zhen’s expression turned conflicted as a hint of ferocity emerged from his originally graceful demeanor:

"The Water God hasn’t devoured them completely yet..."

Shenxi glanced at him and said, "The Water God has been starved for hundreds of years, its Divine Power is already exhausted. Fortunately, it’s finally cultivated suitable food, let’s push the plan forward, it’s time to open the gate of the Jade Ring Pool."

"So we’re just going to ignore You Su?"

"Just a blind man, what big waves can he make? Besides, his purpose has already been served, better if he’s dead, perhaps the Lotus Sword Venerable will come even faster."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a sound of water breaking, and Yudie, wrapped in a black robe, was swept ashore by the water. She spat out water from her mouth after climbing onto the platform and then coughed violently.

From start to finish, neither Shenxi nor Yui Zhen had any intention of offering assistance.

"Save... save him!" The girl who escaped death begged, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Thank you, Saintess, for your hard work. Rest early."

Shenxi uttered these words casually, without even looking at the Saintess, then turned around and walked out coldly, as if everything that happened here tonight had nothing to do with him.

Yudie wrapped her black robe tighter, the chilly night wind made her shiver uncontrollably, her whole body wet through, she watched Shenxi’s back intently and squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth:

"You demons!"

...

All around You Su came a different kind of sticky feeling, his body was wrapped in slippery slime, a nauseating, foul odor filled his nose. It was a liquid that would make one retch, yet carried a hypnotic fragrance, causing You Su’s consciousness to gradually sink.

He wanted to make some motion, but the narrow chamber walls around him completely restricted his movements, forcing him to be temporarily enveloped.

Despite the unpleasant sensation, You Su sensed that the monster seemed to bear no malice toward him. Instead of swallowing him up, it was more like hiding him inside for protection.

He didn’t know how long he stayed in the monster’s stomach, but suddenly he felt his whole body lighten, and he was spit out by the creature.

He rolled on the ground a few times before regaining complete clarity, and the creature had already vanished.

You Su instinctively opened his eyes and propped himself up to observe the unfamiliar surroundings.

All around were jagged stalactites, covered with dark green algae, cold water droplets fell from the rocks above, the air here was chilly and damp.

You Su guessed that this cave should be at the bottom of the Jade Ring Pool.

You Su forced himself to calm down, his initial intention was merely to exchange for a Lotus Heart, but now when he recalls, it seems the Jade Ring Pool showed all signs of cooperation, yet had no intention of letting him succeed.

From the moment he approached the Jade Ring Pool, they had noticed him, first saying the Lotus Heart wasn’t ripe, needing ten days to mature, then using the Saintess to draw him into the Jade Ring Pool, perhaps from the start, the people of the Jade Ring Pool never planned to let him leave so quickly.

You Su was skilled at acting, he played along with Jade Ring Pool’s goodwill to understand why they intentionally kept him there, but just as he neared the answer, he was dragged underground by this creature.

He felt as if he was caught in a swirling vortex of intrigue, from the moment he inexplicably bumped into that white dragon carp outside the Jade Ring Pool, he was deep inside, unable to escape.

And now, the only one who might unravel this mystery for him was perhaps that vanished little white fish.

However, the urgent task now was to try to leave here first.

You Su wasn’t injured, he used the water droplets leaking from above to wash himself briefly, then took out clean clothes from the Qiankun Bag and changed.

He suddenly remembered something, taking out an ancient round disc, engraved with four lifelike beast heads, each facing a different direction. Beneath the heads were bat-like wings, they depicted the legendary Wind Weasel, a Divine Beast extremely sensitive to the wind.

This disc, given to You Su by the Fourth Elder who studied Arrays, was the Wind Weasel Array Disc, able to guide the holder’s direction using airflow.

Suddenly, the four beast heads pointed in the same direction, prompting You Su to tread cautiously and move slowly in that direction.

The passage was empty, only the sound of water droplets repeatedly echoing on the ground, dark emerald gems seemed embedded within the stalactites, emanating a dim glow in the darkness, preventing total blackness around.